Author: A D Smith
Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass
Year: 2005
Language: English
Pages: 324
ISBN/UPC (if available): 812082024X
Description
In a major contribution to the theory of perception, A D Smith presents a truly original defense of direct realism-the view that in perception we are directly aware of things in the physical world.
The Problem of Perception offers two arguments against direct realism-one concerning illusion, and one concerning hallucination-that up to now no theory of perception could adequately rebut. Smith then develops a theory of perception that succeeds in answering these arguments; and because these arguments are the only two that present direct realism with serious problems arising from the nature of perception, direct realism emerges here, for the first time, as an ultimately tenable position within the philosophy of perception.
At the heart of Smith's theory is a new way of drawing the distinction between perception and sensation, along with an unusual treatment of the nature of objects of hallucination. With in-depth reference to both the analytical and the phenomenological literature on perception, and with telling criticism of alternative views, Smith's work will be of value to philosophers of perception in both the analytical and the phenomenological tradition, as well as to psychologists of perception.
REVIEWS
Swith offers a truly original defense of direct realism, the view that in perception we are directly aware of things in the physical world, The author demonstrates an exhaustive knowledge of all the relevant literature on perception, current and historical, analytical and phenomenological. It is rare to find someone who has such a detailed knowledge of both the current and historical literature on perception. And it is even more rare to find someone with such an indepth knowledge of both the analytical and the phenomenological literature on perception.
-Brian P McLaughlin, Rutgers University
Smith introduces the problems of perception-the arguments form illusion and hallucination-within an historically and psychologically informed setting and then offers his own solutions to the problems, presenting by the end of book a fairly complete account of perceptual consciousness, Page after page you get a sense of just how immersed he has been in a whole series of different debates. Particularly noteworthy is how someone within a predominantly analytic stream of dealing with these matters also addresses with sensitive interpretation the phenomenological tradition.
-Mike Martin, University College, London
Contents
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
THE ARGUMENT FROM ILLUSION
The Argument
Three Theories of Perception
Perception and Conception
Taking Stock
The Nature of Perceptual Consciousness
The Solution
THE ARGUMENT FROM HALLUCINATION
The Argument
An Extreme Proposal
The Solution
NOTES
INDEX